ID-a-Kid

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is child ID and child safety so important?
South Africa has a record of 800-1000 missing children every year.
According to law enforcement, a parent’s best assurance for the quick and safe recovery of a missing child is to have a complete profile of the child on hand. The first hours after a child becomes missing is the most critical time for recovery. However it is also the time when the parents are in a panic mode and cannot remember a detailed description of their child.

How can I have this program implemented in our school?
Implementing this program in any school is very simple! It starts with a visit from one of our Child Safety Specialists to your school. Your principal or the PTA arranges to have our preprinted order forms distributed to each parent and the ID-a-Kid Complete kits are delivered for distribution. The process is that simple!

Is the information captured from each child kept on file?
NO. ID-a-Kid or any other party, do not keep any of the information including the fingerprints and the photo on file. The parents are solely responsible to keep their child’s information handy in the case of an emergency.

Why should I fingerprint my child?
A person’s fingerprints never change, and are one of the most valuable investigative tools available to law enforcement. In the unfortunate event of a missing child, fingerprints can be used to track the movements of the child and the abductor. During the crucial first moments after a child is discovered missing, parents are often too emotionally upset to remember details such as the child’s height, weight, and blood type. Our Child Identification Kits condense this information into a compact file that can be simply handed to the first investigators on the scene.

How can fingerprinting protect my child from abduction?
Fingerprinting won’t help to prevent abduction, or even keep a child from running away. However, fingerprinting a child will likely encourage dialogue between parents and the child about the issue of safety. Your ID-a-Kid Complete Kit is a form of storage of information, that will proactively and most definitely assist in the recovery of your missing child. ID-a-Kid's Child Safety poster and other products are also available as sources of safety rules and tips for both parent and child.

Isn’t fingerprinting children and non-criminals an invasion of privacy?
Some people think so. That is why our Child Fingerprinting Kits are designed to be completed and stored by parents, at home. This eliminates the need to take the child to the police to have the child fingerprinted by an unfamiliar person, or to have the child’s fingerprints kept in the public record.

I’ve already photographed and videotaped my child…isn’t that enough?
If you are committed to taking advantage of every available tool for protecting your child, he or she should certainly be fingerprinted. Fingerprints are one of the most effective tools for locating a missing person. Our ID-a-Kid Complete Kit, allows you to have all the pertinent information relating to your child readily available in one place.

If fingerprints never change, why would I need to update my Child Identification Kit(s)?
Our Child Identification Kits contain far more information than just fingerprints. During a young child’s formative years, his or her height, weight, hair color, dental information, and general appearance are among a number of items that may need to be updated annually.

What if I’m just not comfortable with fingerprinting my child?
The Child ID Kits are not just for child fingerprinting. The personal, medical, and physical information contained is comprehensive. Even if you decide not to use the fingerprinting section, the other charts should be completed and a recent photograph attached. Then, you will have the most useful and critical personal information about your child in one place.

How can I educate my children about safety without frightening them?
While children need to be aware of possible dangers, they still need to feel comfortable in social situations and when meeting new people. Try to deliver the message in a serious yet fun way, emphasizing to the child just how many people care about his or her safety. Contact ID-a-Kid to find out more about non-fearful child safety educational materials available for both parents and children.

What is DNA?
DNA is the genetic substance within the human chromosomes that carries the hereditary instruction for producing proteins. All human beings bear a basic resemblance to one another because of their shared human heredity. Each individual inherits a different combination of traits, such as height, hair, eye and skin colour. Chromosomes consist chiefly of protein and a substance called deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly known as DNA.

Why is it important for a parent to have their child's DNA?
Each person's DNA genetic makeup is different and unique. This is an excellent way to identify your child. This is the definitive means of identification.

How can I obtain Child Identification Kits or other ID-a-Kid products for my own family?        Contact us on 011 - 452 0769